1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP (higher axle stands)

hey foxy I got scrapped after 27 years on april 1st , were you in the printing industry?

Oh curse word hell! she should have been told it was only a word and to get over her over inflated self importance.

Maybe its a blessing in disguise, time will tell!

Well. It's been a while and the Mondeo above is Mot'd (albeit now running terribly) but that's not why I dropped in.

No. I'm here because I've just bought an early (unseized) V12 engine. I'm about £1.60 short to pay for it as we speak but am selling a motorbike cable on Ebay which is up to about £21 and ends in an hour.

So. I'll be running to the bank to put a tenner in tomorrow morning unless the the cable-purchaser pays sharp. Am just worried someone might snap-up the engine between times.

I'm basically emptying my whole bank balance to get this engine but I don't think many early carb versions for under £500 with £45 delivery will come up so I have to take the plunge....

Thanks georgeb. That's it paid for. Might have it this week!

Dude, this is great to see you back on it. One of my favourite cars on the forum Sorry to hear about job situation

Thanks guys. It's apparently going to arrive on Thursday. Am not sure where it'll land or how I'm going to manoeuvre it about but am clearing some space for it and thinking about buying some castor wheels from Screwfix or somewhere and making a wee bogey for it.

I forgot to say my mate/boss came down one day (I labour for him now and he paid me nearly a grand this week for wages from end of July) and being a big guy had a go at turning it from the pulley with my extension bar and succeeded in breaking on of the screw that hold the nut/plate thing to the pulley assy. No big deal really but if it wasn't for the 'folding' that he gave me this week I wouldn't be buying the engine so it all evens out I guess.

I predict what will happen is that when I pull the original lump it'll turn by putting force on the flywheel-end or I could now risk sticking a battery on it and trying to free it with the starter. Someone on Fb said they did this successfully on a frozen Jag engine (V12 iirc).

I've also not tried an acetone/ATF mix which is supposed to work on anything.

Basically the new unit might serve as a £446 solution to the problem simply by being not needed. Will be fun working on it anyway.

I'm actually feeling quite inspired just now as I have managed to rebuild a Yamaha XJR1300 for someone in about a week. If I can get it out the way today/tomorrow the V12 can take its place in the barn.



XJR1300 project (not mine) could be out way by time V12 arrives. could squeeze it in behind the Polo

Good to see an update. Good luck with the engines.

The Imp - what's the story?

Cheers guys.

Well the engine arrived a day earlier than I expected and I wasn't there but found it outside the barn this afternoon safe and sound. I spent the evening edging it in with a large lever and some wood.

Took the lid off and got a good feeling about it as it's oily and clean inside the orifices. No trace of corrosion etc. It also turns freely with a large spanner on the centre nut but I expected this as the listing mentioned that.

But there is a problem. The block is missing bits where the gearbox bolts on. I've no idea why this would have happened but it means any gearbox mounted wouldn't be fully bolted on and I think there would also be problems getting the starter motor to fit.

I think the seller sold it in good faith but I'll contact them to see if I can get a partial refund.

I'm really keen to try and get it started out of the car. Got visions of mocking-up the whole system with radiator, exhaust etc bolted on.

Slight problem is I'm going to have to source a flywheel or get the one out my car..



one large parcel. Polo brought out to make room for it



shimied in using large lever



not sure if label on box has any significance



5.3 litre V12



engine number looks initially earlier than mine 7P8525SA (HB stands for high-compression B-grade pistons. SA is standard-compression A-grade pistons) but 5 digits indicate it is a series 3 HE. smaller digits suggest Feb 83



engine turns fine




but damage to gearbox-flange RH & LH not so good


After making this post I've come to conclusion the engine may not be an early carb version at all. The 5 digit engine number points towards a series 3 HE and I'm pretty sure you can't stick carbs on them.

Might need to move it on or strip it for parts.....